Curtain-stretcher



i NTTED STATES PATnNT Frise.

PETER AUGUST AUSTIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,154, dated March 5, 1895.

Application filed May 9,1894. Serial No. 510,595. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, PETER AUGUST AUSTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Curtain-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a device for stretching curtains, and while it is more especially adapted to be used for lacecurtains, such as are used on windows, yet it can be employed for stretching other articles or fabrics of a like nature; and consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement, and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifically claimed.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide a curtainstretcher,which shall be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong and durable, and eective in operation, and, Second, such a device, in which the parts of the frame thereof may be so adj usted, as to stretch the fabric, both with the warp and woof.

Still another object of my invention, is to so arrange the securing hooks, that they may be placed so as to engage the points of the lace-curtain.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe it, referring to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1, is a plan view of my stretcher, showing a portion of a lace-curtain in place thereon, and in the act of being stretched. Fig. 2, is a bottom plan view of one of the crossrails of the frame of the stretcher. Fig. 3, is a bottom view of a portion of one of the siderails, showing its sections hinged together. Fig. 4, is an end view of one of the side rails and a portion of one of the cross-rails or bars, showing them secured together by means of an adjusting screw and also illustrating one of the securing hooks in place on the side rails. Fig. 5, is a perspective view of one of the securing hooks detached from the frame; and Fig. 6 is a similar view of a modification thereof.

Similar letters refer to like parts throughout the different views of the drawings.

A, represents the side rails of the frame or stretcher, which are made of any suitable size,

form, and material, but preferably rectangular in cross section, as shown in Fig. 4, of the drawings. About their middle they are divided and provided on their lower surfaces with hinges e, so that the sections of each rail may be folded together. On the opposite surface from the hinges a, and at their joints, they are provided with a mortise or recess a', within which operates a hook b, which is pivotally secured at one end to one section of the rail, and engages with a pin b', on the other section at its other end, thus holding said sections of each of the rails A, in alignment, and preventing them being closed or folded together, except when desired. On their lower surfaces each of the rails is provided with a longitudinal groove A', which may extend the entire length of the pieces, or only part the length thereof, and which groove is substan` tially Tshaped in cross-section, as illustrated in Fig. 4, and is adapted to receive the head B, of the screw B', which screw extends downward a sufficient distance to enable it to pass through the holes c, or slots c', of the cross-bars C, which bars are adapted 'to engage the side-rails at their ends, as will be presently explained. The lower surface of the rails A, is also provided with a longitudinal groove A2, for the reception, retention, and adjustment of the securing hooks D, which hooks are preferably made of substantially the form shown in Fig. 5, and of fiat metal, generally brass or other non-corrosive material. The lower portion of these hooks is formed with an upturned part or flange d, to fit within the grooves A2, of the side-rails, and the grooves C', of the cross-bars, and is then bent at a right angle to said flange and then upwardly, and again at a right angle, and inwardly and terminating in a point or projection d', to engage the points of the lace-curtain or other fabric. Instead of making these hooks of fiat material, as shown in Fig. 5, I may construct them of pieces of wire D', as shown in Fig. 61, yet having the same general contour, as that illustrated in Fig. 5, and above described.

The cross-bars or rails C, are formed of material preferably rectangular in cross-section, and are provided at one of their ends with a number of holes c, for the reception of the screw B', and near their other endswith 1ongitudinal slots c', for a like purpose. The lower IOO surface of each of the cross-bars is provided with longitudinal grooves C', for the reception and retention 0f the anges or upturned parts of the secu ring hooks, as has before been stated.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawings, it will be seen and readily understood that by placing the head B, of the screws B', within the grooves A', of the side-rails, said Screws may be moved longitudinally to any position on the rails, and as the cross-bars C, engage with the shanks of the screws B', by means of the, holes c, and slots c', in or near their ends, through which they pass, they may likewise be adjusted longitudinally at any suitable point on the side-rails, the slots c', in the cross-bars C, permitting the side-rails to be moved laterally or separated from each other to a suitable position, which may then be securely fastened by means of the thumbscrews E,Which may be tightened on the shank of the screw.

As shown in Fig. l, of the drawings, the side-rails and cross-bars, are provided with a series of securinghooks, which are fitted on said rails, and bars in a manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting them to be moved longitudinally on said pieces to any desired position or at the proper points to engage with the points of the lace-curtain.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a curtain-stretcher the combination of two parallel side-bars or rails, each having on their lower surfaces alongitudinal groove for' the reception of the adjusting screws for the crossbars, and a longitudinal groove for the securing hooks for the fabric, with a pair of cross-bars having at one of their ends a number of holes, and at their other end slots to receive the Shanks of the set-screws, and a 1ongitudinal groove in their lower surfaces for the securing hooks, said hooks having an upturned portion to tit in the grooves therefor in the rails and cross-bars and being bent so as to partly encompass them, and a number of set-screws to secure the bars and rails together, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the side rails A, each hinged in their middle and provided with a hook to hold them in an out-stretched positi0n,andhaving on theirlowersurfacesaT- shaped groove A', for the reception of the adjusting' screw B', and a groove A2, for the securing hooks for the fabric, with the cross-bars C, having the holes c, and slots c', for the screws B', and the grooves C', for the securing hooks, said hooks having an upturned part to operate in said grooves therefor in the rails and bars and bent so as to partly encompass them and to engage the fabric, and the screws B', having the heads B, and set pieces E, all constructed, arranged and operating substantially as described.

PETER AUGUST AUSTIN.

Witnesses:

CHAs. C.T1LLMAN, E. A. DUGGAN. 

